Best Opac Podcasts (2024)

1
Successful Management of Vitreous Opacities 26:23

10d ago26:23

26:23

Performing surgery for symptomatic vitreous opacities (SVO) was once verboten in retina medicine, but the field has seen a sea-change in mindset over the past decade. In this podcast, optometric thought leader Alison Bozung, OD, is joined by an esteemed panel of retina surgeons to discuss why more retina surgeons are willing to perform vitrectomy f…

1
S4 Ep46: The Opacity of Violence: Elias Khoury's Gate of the Sun 55:40

25d ago55:40

55:40

In this episode, the Spiders try to analyze Elias Khoury's Gate of the Sun, a harrowing novel of the decades-long occupation of Palestine by Israel. However, the challenge is overwhelming, as it appears that violence may not be interpretable.By Xi Draconis Books

1
The State of Biosimilars: Integration of Biosimilars into a Retina Practice 22:03

23h ago22:03

22:03

Biosimilars in retina are here. How are practices integrating them into their clinics? And how do they navigate issues around payer policy, protocol changes, and ensuring continuity of care? Moderator John Kitchens, MD, sits down with retina specialist Dave Brown, MD, and Kristin Yockus, the VP of Process Integrations at Retina Consultants of Ameri…

1
New Retina Radio Journal Club with VBS: Comparison of Antiseptics Use for IVT 15:48

7d ago15:48

15:48

How do endophthalmitis rates after intravitreal injection differ after using povidone-iodine compared with chlorhexidine? Moderator Sruthi Arepalli, MD, hears from panelists Vaidehi Dedania, MD, and Rebecca Soares, MD, MPH, about a recent peer-reviewed retrospective cohort study on this topic. After the break, the trio discuss how to manage patient…

1
87 | The Politics of Left-Wing Climate Realism w/ Dr. Ajay Singh Chaudhary 1:14:44

9d ago1:14:44

1:14:44

In this episode, we are joined by Ajay Chaudhary to discuss his book The Exhausted of the Earth: Politics in a Burning World and the political, economic, and affective sites of exhaustion reproduced through climate degradation. We examine the expanding colonial relations of what Chaudhary calls the “extractive circuit” between the both the Global S…

1
In Consideration of House Calls and OD-to-OD Referrals 36:35

23d ago36:35

36:35

This month on The MOD Pod, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, invites Damaris Raymondi, OD, FAAO, and Jason Besecker, OD, MS, to discuss their recent articles in Modern Optometry. Have a listen as Dr. Raymondi shares extra details about the patient experience that opened her eyes to the transformative effect that offering at-home visits can have…

1
Successful Management of Vitreous Opacities 25:38

25d ago25:38

25:38

Performing surgery for symptomatic vitreous opacities (SVO) was once verboten in retina medicine, but the field has seen a sea-change in mindset over the past decade. In this podcast, moderator John Kitchens, MD, is joined by Edwin H. Ryan, MD; Christina Y. Weng, MD, MBA; and Alison Bozung, OD, to explore why surgery for SVO has become more palatab…

1
86 | Right-Wing Political Thought w/ Dr. Matt McManus 59:00

25d ago59:00

59:00

In this episode, we are joined by Matt McManus to discuss his research into the history and philosophy of right-wing politics in his book The Political Right and Equality. We discuss the nature of conservatism as an irrationalist reaction to modernist ideas about human egalitarianism, the rhetorical strategies of the right, and the historical condi…

1
New Retina Radio Journal Club with VBS: Visual Outcomes Following Surgical RRD Repair Relative to Foveal Status and Time of Surgery 20:17

1M ago20:17

20:17

Do the status of the fovea and/or the timing of surgery affect visual outcomes following RRD repair? Join New Retina Radio Journal Club host Lediana Goduni, MD, as she and panelists Matt Starr, MD, and Joshua Uhr, MD, dissect the findings of a recent paper exploring this question. After the break, the trio discusses tactics for overcoming challenge…

1
S4 Ep45: The boundary between golden myth and secret history in Don DeLillo's Pafko at the Wall 50:11

1M ago50:11

50:11

The spiders consider the novella Pafko at the Wall, the first fifty pages of Don DeLillo's Underworld. Does its careful examination of its period kitsch reveal a deeper thematic weight? I mean, probably.By Xi Draconis Books

1
85 TEASER | Giving an Account of Oneself: Judith Butler's Ethics of Opacity 8:56

1M ago8:56

8:56

In this episode we delve into Judith Butler’s Giving an Account of Oneself, an illuminating book from 2005 that examines subject-formation and the relationship between the self, other people, and the normative social order. We reconstruct Butler’s efforts to ground a philosophical ethics with positive claims in the insights of three theoretical tra…

1
S4 Ep43: Mysteries of connection and communication in Katie Kitamura's Intimacies 1:00:35

2M ago1:00:35

1:00:35

By Xi Draconis Books

1
84 | Sex in Philosophy w/ Dr. Manon Garcia 1:06:41

2M ago1:06:41

1:06:41

In this episode, we talk with Manon Garcia about the problem of women’s submissiveness in feminist philosophy. Then we discuss longstanding feminist criticisms of the concept of consent, what we want from consent in the first place, and what it could mean in the future. And we wonder if the reason it’s so hard to talk about sex in philosophy is tha…

1
Bimbo Theory: A Gender Maximalist Guide to Having It All 58:42

2M ago58:42

58:42

We’re not like other girls… Join us for our most recent episode as we offer a critical re-evaluation of the figure of the bimbo and deconstruct societal preconceptions of femininity at large through our own cosima bee concordia’s essay “My Official Bimbo Diagnosis”. With our two remaining brain cells we ponder, why does everyone seem to hate femini…

1
Treating Geographic Atrophy (GA) In Your Practice 17:47

2M ago17:47

17:47

Sponsored by Apellis Pharmaceuticals. Scott Walter, MD, and Esther Kim, MD, join John W. Kitchens, MD, to discuss how they treat GA in their practices. Listen to gain expert insights as Drs. Kim, Walter, and Kitchens each share their experiences with this treatment. They also share best practices for dosing based on trial data.…

1
Diagnosing Geographic Atrophy (GA) and Identifying Eligible Patients For Therapy 20:39

2M ago20:39

20:39

Sponsored by Apellis Pharmaceuticals. John W. Kitchens, MD, invites Scott Walter, MD, and Esther Kim, MD, to discuss best practices for identifying appropriate patients with GA for treatment. Gain perspectives on patient selection, patient education, and safety considerations.By Eyetube

1
S4 Ep44: The Joy and Frustration in Not Going Too Deep Into the Details of Nabokov's Pale Fire 47:40

2M ago47:40

47:40

In which we struggle to talk about a text that is famous for generating endless discussion about how to talk about it.By Xi Draconis Books

1
A Dose of Cultural Guidance With a Side of Dry Eye 34:00

2M ago34:00

34:00

Check out this month's episode of The MOD Pod, where host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, chats with Bryce St. Clair, OD, about the importance of providing empathetic, patient-centered care across diverse communities. The two discuss how to learn about patient culture or religion without seeming insensitive and more. Dr. Koetting also speaks …

1
The State of Biosimilars: How We Got Here and What It Means for Practice 25:19

2M ago25:19

25:19

Two biosimilars are approved for use in retina by the US FDA—and more will be approved in the coming years. What exactly are biosimilars? What benefit might they provide? And how confident are retina specialist that biosimilars will deliver safe, high-quality care? Moderator John Kitchens, MD, sits down with retina specialists Carl Awh, MD, and Fir…

1
83 | What is Aesthetics? Part III: Ernst Bloch: In Search of the Red Sublime 56:03

2M ago56:03

56:03

In this episode, we return to the work of Ernst Bloch and his theory concerning “aesthetic genius” and the possibility of the red sublime. Bloch attempts to construct a Marxist account of art that can explain how it is possible for aesthetic objects to provoke experiences of beauty and sublimity long after the historical conditions of their genesis…

1
Cherchez la Femme Revisited 39:11

2M ago39:11

39:11

The field of retina has made significant strides when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion since Julia A. Haller, MD, penned her inspirational 2015 JAMA Ophthalmology editorial, Cherchez la Femme. The ever-growing body of research on this topic stands as a testament to her commitment to understanding the gaps in diversity, particularly in t…

1
S4 Ep42: Sandra Newman's Julia, and George Orwell's 1984 1:06:46

2M ago1:06:46

1:06:46

In this episode, the spiders discuss Julia, by Sandra Newman, which is a retelling of 1984, by George Orwell. Julia tells the classic dystopian tale from the perspective of the original's main female character, and in so doing, retcons the original in both positive and negative ways.By Xi Draconis Books

1
82 | The State and Right: Kant's Metaphysics of Morals 1:01:48

3M ago1:01:48

1:01:48

In this episode, we dig into the Doctrine of Right in Kant’s Metaphysics of Morals to see what he has to say about the state. Turns out he’s a fan, because the state is what guarantees the possibility of justice and perpetual peace. Nice! But he also thinks that the state should be authorized to kill you. And that you don’t have the right to rebel …

1
Glaucoma and Systemic Health • Equitable Eye Health and Vision Care 33:00

3M ago33:00

33:00

In this episode of The MOD Pod, host Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, welcomes guests Chris Kruthoff, OD, FAAO, and Brittany Wright, OD, MS, FAAO, who recently authored articles in the January/February issue of Modern Optometry. Dr. Koetting probes Dr. Kruthoff for more details on his piece about glaucoma and systemic health (00:37) and digs d…

1
81 TEASER | David Harvey: Capitalist Urbanization and the Right to the City 11:05

3M ago11:05

11:05

In this episode, we talk about David Harvey’s analysis of the urbanization process as a form of accumulated surplus capital expenditure and consider the built environment as a crucial site of class struggle. The physical constitution of the built environment in which we live mediates our forms of sociality and political dispositions, not to mention…

1
S4 Ep41: Power, abuse, and doubled families in Otessa Moshfegh's Eileen 57:02

3M ago57:02

57:02

The Spiders pick over Otessa Moshfegh's novel Eileen, a novel whose protagonist's gaze might have its own spidery quality.By Xi Draconis Books

1
80 | Grab Bag Special Episode with Michael Peterson! Utilitarian Harems, Nietzschean Ciphers, and Cowardly Chatbots 1:22:31

4M ago1:22:31

1:22:31

In this nonstandard episode, Gil and Owen are joined by Michael Peterson to talk about how dreadful utilitarianism is, consider some of the offers that folks have made to come guest on the show, and reflect on how deeply unimpressive LLMs are when it comes to actually taking a position. Just having some fun with it! Video of the recording is availa…

1
S4 Ep39: The Garden of Seven Twilights and the Postmodern Mega-Novel 1:04:10

4M ago1:04:10

1:04:10

In which the Spider tries to unravel the tangled web of Miquel de Palol's The Garden of Seven Twilights, the Catalan language's addition to the canon of postmodern meganovelistic bricks like Infinite Jest and Gravity's Rainbow.By Xi Draconis Books

1
Conversations on Early Intervention and Postop Glaucoma Complications 46:34

4M ago46:34

46:34

Happy New Year! Enjoy The MOD Pod's new format. You'll still get a recap of selected articles from the latest issue of Modern Optometry, but instead of hearing them being read by the authors, you get a lively discussion between the podcast's new host, Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, and the author. In the first episode of 2024, Dr. Koetting c…

1
S4 Ep40: The Complexity of Stasis in Lexi Freiman's The Book of Ayn 57:16

4M ago57:16

57:16

In this episode we discuss Lexi Freiman's new book, The Book of Ayn. We talk about objectivism, the relationship between humor and ideology, the difficulties of interrogating meaning through the perspectives of unreliable narrators, and the perpetual rightness of Patrick Barney.By Xi Draconis Books

1
79 | What Could It Mean to Say, “Capitalism Causes Sexism and Racism”? with Professor Vanessa Wills 1:04:49

4M ago1:04:49

1:04:49

In this episode, we are joined by George Washington University Associate Professor Vanessa Wills to discuss her article “What Could It Mean to Say, ‘Capitalism Causes Sexism and Racism’?” We try to figure out why critics badly understand the Marxist concept of causation as it concerns identity-based oppression, why labor and production provide the …

1
AAO ’23: Downward Trends in Reimbursement and ChatGPT in the Retina Clinic 35:53

5M ago35:53

35:53

Reimbursements for vitreoretinal surgery have plummeted in the past decade. How dire is the situation? John Thompson, MD, updates listeners on the trends in Medicare reimbursement for a variety of vitreoretinal surgeries, imaging tests, and E&M visits—all of which have implications for the future of care and access to providers. After the break, Ra…

1
Vitreomacular Interface Disorders • Building Financial Security • Multifocal CLs 31:34

5M ago31:34

31:34

Julie Rodman, OD, MSc, FAAO, FORS, offers tips for differentiating between vitreomacular interface disorders (1:04); Christopher Lopez, OD, shares advice for making planning for future less overwhelming (13:37); and Ryan Corte, OD, explains how to optimize comfort and performance with multifocal contact lenses (22:58).…

1
New Retina Radio Journal Club: Intentional Suspension of Therapy in Wet AMD 15:32

5M ago15:32

15:32

What are the consequences to intentional suspension of anti-VEGF therapy in wet AMD patients? Join moderator Sruthi Arepalli, MD, and panelists Rebecca Soares, MD, MPH, and Vaidehi Dedania, MD, as they explore the circumstances under which treatment might be suspended, examine a paper that described the consequences of treatment suspension, and rev…

1
S4 Ep38: David Nikki Crouse's I'm Here: Alaska Stories 53:29

5M ago53:29

53:29

In this episode, the spiders are joined by a special guest, the author of several notable short story collections, David Nikki Crouse. We ask David craft questions about their most recent story collection, I'm Here: Alaska Stories. David gives insightful answers on a variety of topics, including class, identity, and the myth of Alaska.…

1
78 | Perry Anderson's Considerations on Western Marxism 58:22

5M ago58:22

58:22

In this episode we get the Perry Anderson treatment and ask if we philosophers are the problem with how Western Marxism has evolved over time. We discuss what Anderson calls the formal and thematic shifts that happened within this theoretical tradition once the philosophers got in the driver’s seat. Partly ethnographic, partly analytical, and a lit…

1
AAO ’23: Real-World Faricimab Patterns and Improving GA Assessments 22:13

5M ago22:13

22:13

The FARETINA-AMD study group assessed approximately 23,000 patients with wet AMD who had received at least one dose of faricimab (Vabysmo, Genentech/Roche). What have they found? Sophie Bakri, MD, summarizes the findings of an IRIS Registry review, which uncovered data about who has been dosed with faricimab, how frequently extended dosing interval…

1
New Retina Radio AAO Late-Breakers: PULSAR at 96 Weeks and Home OCT in Wet AMD 25:59

5M ago25:59

25:59

They’re here: the 96-week data on aflibercept 8 mg (Eylea, Regeneron) in wet AMD. Jean-Francois Korobelnik, MD, PhD stops by to review the 96-week data from PULSAR. How closely did the 96-week results match those at 48 weeks? And how many patients could be extended to 16-, 20-, or even 24-week intervals? Also, W. Lloyd Clark, MD, joins the show to …

1
77 | What is Ecosocialism? Part I. John Bellamy Foster and the Metabolic Rift 59:02

5M ago59:02

59:02

In this inaugural episode of our new series on ecosocialism, we discuss some writings by ecological Marxist thinker John Bellamy Foster, whose main contribution to contemporary discourse is his elaboration of the theory of metabolic rift. We talk about how this concept is meant to explain why the capitalist mode of production is environmentally uns…

1
New Retina Radio Journal Club: Prophylactic Laser for Lattice Degeneration in Fellow Eyes After RRD Repair 16:44

5M ago16:44

16:44

How effective is prophylactic laser for preventing fellow eye RT/RRD in patients with lattice degeneration who underwent uncomplicated primary RRD repair? NRR Journal Club with VBS moderator David Xu, MD, and panelists Prethy Rao, MD, and Barton Blackorby, MD, summarize a recent study that explored rates of fellow eye RT/RRD in this patient populat…

1
S4 Ep37: Ben Okri's The Famished Road and the worst tendencies of magical realism 49:53

5M ago49:53

49:53

In which the Spiders grudgingly admit to not connecting with Ben Okri's legendary The Famished Road, inspiration for the best early Radiohead song, and a novel which works much better in bits and fragments than it does as a unified whole.By Xi Draconis Books

1
New Retina Radio AAO Late-Breakers: ALTITUDE and DIAMOND 21:16

6M ago21:16

21:16

RGX-314 (Regenxbio) could be a one-time gene therapy that addresses diabetic retinopathy. How did it perform in the phase 2 ALTITUDE study? Mark Barakat, MD, shares 1-year safety and efficacy findings from the first two dosing levels of RGX-314 in patients with DR. What are the data? And what’s coming next? And Hani Salehi-Had, MD, joins the show t…

1
Astigmatism in CL Wearers • Preservative Exposure 17:50

6M ago17:50

17:50

Jason E. Compton, OD, FAAO, discusses the importance of managing astigmatism in contact lens wearers (0:58). Selina R. McGee, OD, FAAO, talks about the effects of long-term exposure to preservatives when treating chronic ocular conditions (8:37).By Eyetube

1
76 | For and Against Participatory Planning & Economics 56:08

6M ago56:08

56:08

In this patron-requested episode, we discuss the proposals for participatory planning and economics developed by Robin Hahnel and Michael Albert. They contend that socialists should want to organize social production and consumption neither through authoritarian centralized planning, nor through market mechanisms, but by democratic consensus attain…

1
Spectres of Ableism: A Halloween Special! 1:08:54

6M ago1:08:54

1:08:54

We are at most only temporarily able-bodied and minded. While we may live our lives more or less aware of our relationship with disability and while we may experience different periods of health and illness, the fact that we are all pre-disabled is an immutable aspect of the human condition. For our second annual Drunk Church Halloween Special we e…

1
S4 Ep36: The Future of Literacy and Vernor Vinge's Novel, Rainbows End 1:01:35

6M ago1:01:35

1:01:35

Note: Some audio issues with our mics in this episode. Apologies for the diminished quality. In this episode, the boys discuss the future of literacy - in large part to avoid discussing Vinge's disappointing novel. We touch upon what the emergence of generative AI might mean for writing and reading, and we talk about the craft of writing about the …

1
New Retina Radio Journal Club: Are Postpartum Retinal Detachment Rates Linked to Method of Delivery? 16:58

6M ago16:58

16:58

Do patients with a history of retinal detachment (RD) experience higher rates of postpartum RD based on whether they delivered vaginally or via caesarean section? Join NRR Journal Club with VBS moderator Lediana Goduni, MD, and panelists Matt Starr, MD, and Joshua Uhr, MD, as they recap a new paper on this topic. After the break, the group reviews …

1
75 TEASER | Power, Reason, and Justification: Rainer Forst’s Critical Theory 8:14

6M ago8:14

8:14

In this episode, we discuss the social theory of the Kantian critical theorist Rainer Forst in his book Normativity and Power. We work through how well his theory of the relationship between power and reason accounts for economic domination, why he thinks power and violence ought to be distinguished, and whether critical theory can escape the probl…

1
Everything is Possible and Nothing is True: Mia Khalifa, Fake News, Free Speech, and the Hope for a Free Palestine 27:14

6M ago27:14

27:14

This is a special mini episode, driven by the immediacy of the horrors happening right now in the Gaza Strip. Mia Khalifa, controversial public figure and Lebanese ex-porn star, was publicly reprimanded and fired last week by Playboy for her "disgusting actions"—a.k.a. voicing solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation …

1
The Sadness: You Always Hurt the One You Love (TEASER) 9:14

7M ago9:14

9:14

This is a teaser--to access the full episode on an patron only-RSS feed, sign up at our Patreon. What if you became a zombie, but instead of becoming a mindless brain eater you find that you're exactly the same except for a new and uncontrollable urge to commit the most unspeakably horrific things you can imagine? What if you found yourself revelin…

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